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Category: EPKs

0 EPK – Manuel Barbara – Whisper in a Storm (2024)

  • July 3, 2024
  • by Asher
  • · EPKs · Manuel Barbara · Uncategorized

EPK – Manuel Barbara – Whisper in a Storm (2024)

Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com

“I believe that these four tracks are hands-down the best music I have made so far. I think people will really feel that this music has come into its own, and I am excited to move further in this direction in the future. I want this EP to be a heavy, slamming journey to four very distinct musical places, featuring some of my favorite musicians.” – Manuel Barbara

For fans of Monuments, Tesseract, Periphery, Meshuggah, Keith Merrow

Manuelbarbara.com | Facebook.com/8stringalchemy | Instagram.com/8stringalchemy  | Youtube.com/@8stringalchemy | Tiktok.com/@8stringalchemy

Linktr.ee/8stringalchemy | 8stringalchemy.bandcamp.com | Spotify | Apple Music

“the song (A Different Horizon (feat. Jake Howsam Lowe (Plini)) blends metal heaviness and classical music concepts to create something intricate, unique, and highly technical.” – Decibel Magazine

“Berklee trained and steeped in metal music, composing, and shredding, the EP (Whisper in the Storm) is going to unite die-hard metal fans and guitar geeks alike. The first single off this EP is “Dead Hand,” which features Jody Miller, a renowned violinist in the video game music scene.” – Ghost Cult Magazine

“If a sophisticated and often elegant variety of mainly instrumental progressive metal is a subject matter of particular interest, and you are fond of such creations exploring the entire span from gentle and melodic all the way towards the extreme, then you will find this EP quite the rewarding experience I’d imagine.” – Progressor

“When I came across New Jersey based guitarist and composer Manuel Barbará and his solo debut album “Moonrise” in 2021, I saw myself blown away by his modern instrumental style, combining mighty heaviness with dreamful electronic sounds. Finding inspiration in a wide range of classical, neoclassical as well as contemporary artists and bands, his new EP, “Whisper in a Storm”, lines up here as well, offering epic shredding within a spacey atmosphere fitting to the Blade Runner theme. While the playing is highly sophisticated and not an easy listen due to its dissonance and complexity, there’s still this djenty grooviness that keeps me vibing with it. Recommended ffo modern Progmetal in the veins of Tesseract, Periphery and Meshuggah.” – The ProgSpace 

“Prog metal, with a pinch of metal/deathcore musically” – Moshpit Radio 89.9FM WORT (Madison, WI)

“With its rhythmic elements and heavy riffs, Manuel Barbará’s debut album is in the purity of modern instrumental progressive metal. But his influences from classical composers add an interesting extra touch.”- Music Waves (2021 – Moonrise – LP)

“a spectacular showcase of the progressive qualities of Manuel Barbará.” – Games, Brains and A Headbanging Life (2021 – Moonrise – LP)

“This is an astounding first record. Especially for a single composer. If you are a fan of atmospheric instrumental metal, give it a shot. I give the album a solid 8/10. Manuel is already looking forward to the future with new compositions which are even more refined and elaborate. I’m looking forward to it with great anticipation.” – Belgian Metal Shredder (2021 – Moonrise – LP)

“I really enjoyed my time with this album. I’m a big fan of djenty riffs, dissonant tones and atmosphere which this album provided aplenty. The record shows that Manuel is a master craftsman in composition. The album clocks in at about 35 minutes. In this case that’s a plus. It doesn’t overstay its welcome and makes the tracks stand out more. The album is instrumental, which could be a turnoff for some people. But to me it benefits from it. It’s more of a listening album than an all-out headbang/rocking out record.” – Belgian Metal Shredder (2021 – Moonrise – LP)

“without a doubt that we have a talented musician and composer in front of us. The approach is in large parts of the material progressive metal with the corresponding hardness and complexity… You can’t deny the band’s instrumental quality…” – Metal-Heads.de (2021 – Moonrise – LP)

“Manuel Barbará shines bright on Moonrise… this is a fascinating listen and it is easy to appreciate Manuel’s complex musical narrative… this deserves a listen as it does embody the prog metal ideal and as such, it’s a damn good album: think Tesseract or Periphery.” – RAMzine (2021 – Moonrise – LP)

“Barbará has rejuvenated the instrumental metal genre, boldly handling what is often perceived as a deficit of vocals and composing with refinement and a brilliantly malicious sense of melody and groove.” – Jace Media (2021 – Moonrise – LP)

“It’s unbelievable that Moonrise is the debut of a musical high-flyer. Manuel Barbará releases an unbelievably mature masterpiece, which not only pays homage to its role models Dream Theater, Keith Merrow, or Periphery, but also presents crisp, progressive Djent Metal at eye level, which despite its perfection and precision still offers room for improvement. My recommendation with 8.5 / 10” – Soundmagnet (2021 – Moonrise – LP)

“Inviting the listener in with some mystical soundscapes, the tempo and mood change immediately when the trio start firing on all cylinders with a dent-driven, pushing rhythmic sound alongside Manuel’s epic and virtuosic guitar work. The overall sound is dark and mighty, but every now and then gets brightened by some gleaming tones. The use of electronic sounds add a modern vibe as well and he skillfully alternates between full-power, highly technical, and calmer, atmospheric parts, before taking us to the gigantic ending riff.” – Tuonela Magazine (2021 – Moonrise – LP)

[Download EP Cover | Download EP Lyrics]
EP Title: Whisper in a Storm
Release Date: September 13, 2024
Label: Self-Published
Distribution: Distrokid
Track Listing:
1. Dead Hand (feat. Jody Miller) – 5:43
2. A Different Horizon (feat. Jake Howsam Lowe) – 5:49
3. Aphelion (feat. Michael Nystrom Bala) – 4:13
4. Whisper in a Storm (feat. Thalia Tymowski & Millisa Henderson) – 4:51
5. Whisper in a Storm (instrumental) – 4:51
EP Length: 24:42

EP Credits:
All songs written and performed by Manuel Barbará
Produced, mixed, and mastered by Manuel Barbará
EP artwork by Jason Grossman
===================================================

About The EP Artwork

Since Whisper in a Storm is about Blade Runner, I thought having some origami on the cover would be appropriate. I was considering just making it an origami unicorn, but I ended up settling on the eye.

About the EP as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

This EP is designed to be a strange, adventurous, expertly crafted punch to the face with just enough spacey ambiance to make it punch even harder and just enough big synths to make it feel like you might be stabbed with a katana under a neon sign.

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

Dead Hand was the first of the four songs to come together. Heavily inspired by Monuments, it mainly features a big heavy riff that keeps returning with slightly different feels and that gives me an image of a big snake that you definitely don’t want to get in the way of. That riff gives way to all kinds of spacey ambiance and twisty strangeness. The ending riff is one of the heaviest and weirdest things I’ve ever written, and Jody’s scary violin textures tie the whole experience together.

A Different Horizon kicks off with an off-kilter riff in 3s that sets the tone for the rest of the song. There’s always something making you anticipate the next section. Jake’s brilliant solo is bookended by a massive melodic riff and the whole piece ends with a section that the bass player in Necronomicon ex Mortis described as “what in the Dark Souls haunted cathedral is this?”

Aphelion –  The original idea for this song was “What if I took a straightforward unga-bunga riff and made it weirder and weirder every time it happens”. The big stompy intro with slightly alien harmony goes through a process of transformation and fragmentation until it comes back to its original form and immediately falls apart again. The two solos, by myself and Mike, contrast one another very nicely.

Whisper in a Storm is the most “traditional” of the four songs with what is mostly a typical verse-chorus sort of structure. It still features odd expanding and contracting rhythms and huge stacks of guitars with Thalia’s powerful voice tying the whole thing together. The final bridge gives way to two melodic guitar solos and a final, crushing riff.

===================================================
STORY ANGLES – FUN FACTS

1. One of the sound effects in Whisper in a Storm is actually two kitchen knives scraping together.

2. I regularly find myself in the odd position of being metal teacher while being not abstract enough for classical teachers

3. I learned to play guitar on a 7-string. 6-strings feel like toys whenever I pick one up.

4. I feel like my music is a constant attempt to surprise myself with something. The trouble is, once I write it, it stops being surprising.

5. I played a show in Long Island a few months ago. It took 4 hours to get to the venue and I was 45 minutes late to my start time. My panic quickly disappeared when the other bands turned out to be an hour late to theirs.

Manuel Barbará is a metal guitarist and composer from the East Coast of the United States who combines the aggression and technical mastery of heavy metal with formal and harmonic concepts learned from the great composers of the 19th and 20th century. Trained at Berklee College of Music (2020, Guitar and Composition), Manuel brings his love of modern “classical” music and composition to bear on the progressive rock that has always inspired him. His compositions, whether for metal band or chamber ensemble, aim to unify these two disparate spheres of music.

His guitar playing is precise and disciplined and his compositions are carefully constructed pieces, full of ambiance and color. Talking about his music, Barbará says: “The purpose of music for me, after all the craft and technique and study are done, is to draw the listeners in and allow them to experience totally new worlds. The details of those worlds will be up to each individual person”.

His debut album “Moonrise” was released in March 2021 and returns in 2024 with his follow-up EP “Whisper In The Storm” out on September 13th.

Discography:
2024 – Whisper In The Storm – EP
2022 – Clockwork Soul (single)
2021 – Moonrise – LP

Shared Stage:
Manuel Barbara also plays in bands:
– Necronomicon Ex Mortis
– Apocalyptic Sandwich of Doom (unreleased)

Opened for: Absurd Condition, Chris Cyanid, Jackpipe, Share the Burden, Feast Your Eyes, Sadha, The Shape it Takes, Eradicate, Krimson Mask, Hellswind

0 EPK – Artach – Sgrios (2024)

  • June 26, 2024
  • by Asher
  • · Artach · EPKs

EPK – Artach – Sgrios (2024)

Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com

“This EP “Sgrios” might surprise some listeners as we took on an experimental direction, a black metal spin on industrial metal sounds. Bands like Rammstein, Fear Factory, and Pain for example. Think of a mash of styles that we haven’t heard much of. Something fresh and original. Not a ton of Black Metal bands will have Rammstein-esque synth guitar sounds, tremolo-picked riffs, and harsh black metal vocals. However, it’s still us and still has all the elements from our previous releases. This is just a taste of what’s to come as we work on our upcoming 3rd full-length that will be released this fall and will once again be our signature sound.” – Artach

For fans of Immortal, Venom, Slayer, Darkthrone, Celtic Frost

Facebook.com/ArtachBlackMetal | Instagram.com/ArtachBlackMetal | Youtube

Artach.bandcamp.com

Band: Artach
EP Title: Sgrios
Label: Self-Release
Release Date: July 6, 2024
Track Listing
1. Frozen Factory – 3:00
2. The Black Hole – 3:32
3. Super-Cybernetic – 3:18
4. Atomic Cabaret – 3:04
EP Length: 12:55
EP Credits:
All songs performed, written, produced, mixed and mastered by Artach.
Album cover art by Inneal and Artach.

Artach are:
Fíochmhar: Drums/Vocals
Sruthán: Guitar/Bass

======================================================

About The EP Artwork

The SGRIOS cover has us in robot form in a frozen industrial wasteland. It fits with the lyrical topics for the EP perfectly.

About the EP as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

Lyrically, the topics explored on the SGRIOS EP cover technology, apocalyptic themes, and some tongue in cheek suggestive topics. Musically you will hear industrial metal through the Artach blackened-thrash lens.

Track by track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

1. Environmental collapse due to greed (“Frozen Factory”) – the most “Artach-sounding” song on here.

2. The perils of deep space exploration with suggestive themes (“The Black Hole”)

3. Sex between two robots (“Super-Cybernetic”)

4. “Atomic Cabaret,” is a dark reflection on the development and catastrophic consequences of nuclear technology, highlighting the destructive potential, moral dread, and existential uncertainty of the atomic age. Musically summons Rammstein vibes.

======================================================

BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:

1. Artach doesn’t rehearse or jam, we just write and record constantly (sadly this was slowed down a bit in recent times due to lock-downs due to the raging pandemic). When a song is written, it gets recorded, then we move on to the next one. We’ve probably forgotten how to play the earlier songs as once a song has been finalized we don’t waste time jamming on it as we are not a live band. We move right onto the next song and keep the creative process flowing. For this reason, at any one time, there can be 10+ song ideas in various states of composition.

2. The band’s name, member names, and even some song titles are in Gaelic. It’s not that we speak the language, but because the historical roots of our island involve the immigration of people from Ireland, Scotland, and England. Therefore rather than re-tread the themes of the Scandinavian and Norse lands, which have been overdone in black/pagan/folk metal, we decided to stick with something more authentic to our own roots.

3. Many of the songs are about nature, and many of those involve winter. We live in the coldest, windiest, snowiest, foggiest, a capital provincial city in Canada. We’d give many Norwegian cities a challenge for gloomiest weather. As a result, the climate and nature are themes found in most songs.

4. Sruthán never played bass before Artach – just guitar. Fíochmhar never sang in a band before – just played drums.

Artach is a two-man black metal band (Sruthán: Guitar/Bass, Fíochmhar: Battery/Vokills/Keys)based in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. Being from the foggiest, snowiest, wettest, windiest, and gloomiest capital city in Canada, one should not be surprised that this fuels the creation of Black Metal. Their inspiration comes from the land, nature, the bleak weather of the Canadian North, and influential black metal bands.

Since the duo’s formation in the spring of 2019, Artach has been consistently releasing new music. The band’s debut album “Chronicles of a Black Winter” was released digitally during February 2020 and later unleashed on physical CD by Depressive Illusions Records. The full length contained 9 songs of extreme, harsh, and haunting sounds, which included a cover of Celtic Frost’s ‘Jewel Throne’.

Now in 2021, the band returns with their next offering “Sworn To Avenge”, a full-length scourge of raw and relentless bruting gloom. From the calming blasts and savagery of album opener “Tuiteam an Duine” to the ingrained black metal blast beats, and headbanging riffage on “Shimmer” to the 20-minute exploration for the epic “Endless Tundra” about the doomed Franklin expedition of 1846 to the Immortal-esque riffing and unorthodox exorcism of album closer “Winter’s End”, Artach delivers a 65-minute cold deliverance of their surroundings.

Discography:

*Artach – “Album 3” – FALL 2024
*Artach – Sgrios (EP) – JULY 2024 Release
2024: From The Frozen Vault (EP)
2023: Hell on Halloween (Single)
2021: Countess Bathory (Single)
2021: Sworn to Avenge (album)
2020: Night Songs (single)
2020: Chronicles of a Black Winter (album)
*Forthcoming releases.

“With the jagged band name and bleak setting you can look upon the cover and get a taste of what’s in store, then you add in the hooded man with the sword and your ideas may be subverted, perhaps not. This is the real genius of Artach. They are making music that crosses genres; a bit of black metal, death metal, old school horns up fists of air grabbing metal as well.” – Killchain (2021: Sworn to Avenge)

“Artach are one of the most interesting black metal bands to have come out of Canada in recent years. The unique meshing of first and second wave black metal styles alongside elements of progressive black metal creates an interesting and intriguing album. The band’s enjoyment for creating and love for their craft really shines through, it is refreshingly authentic and invigorating, daring to explore things in their own way instead of adding more footprints to an already well trodden black metal path.” – NOIZZE (2021: Sworn to Avenge)

“The song (She Gathers Leaves) is a thrill-ride, but also reveals elements of gothic witchiness. The raw vocals are caught up in a paroxysm of fierce, crazed adoration, venting cold-blooded roars as well as braying, throat-stripping howls and cut-throat screams. The full-throttle drumming is tumultuous, a changing array that hammers, gallops, rocks, thunders, and blasts. Urgently rising chords provide a recurring theme, surrounded by flame-throwing riffs that dart, pulsate, and spasm, drawing on elements of thrash and classic heavy metal as well as black metal. Ecstatically swirling leads further add to the wildness of the song. A mood of mystery does surface in the track’s brief intro, and that mood surfaces again in the song’s back half, leading into a necromantic guitar solo that takes flight in scintillating fashion.” – No Clean Singing (2021: Sworn to Avenge)

“check out Artach for a truly epic journey into the wildernesses that populate the dark fantasy land conjured through their excellent music. This sophomore album tells me that this is a band that will be releasing much good material for years to come and will soon be headlining the epic black metal stages or charts both online and at festivals. An excellent job all round.” – Metal Rules (2021: Sworn to Avenge)

“”Sworn to Avenge is a mind-assaulting record… You’ll hear the influences of classic black metal bands like Venom, early-Bathory as well as elements of the second wave; Immortal, Darkthrone etc. Ugly and uninviting stuff but very satisfying if you enjoy the gloomier side of metal… It’s a mammoth listen and does take its toll, but the array of ideas that Artach showcase does keep things interesting. An hour slips by, the cold has sunk deep into the bones and you’ll be left wondering if you’ll ever be warm again.” – Games, Brrraaains And A Head-Banging Life (2021: Sworn to Avenge)

“Very melodic black metal, yet aggressive and heavy with undeniable influences from plain old straightforward heavy metal, so while things are definitely “black metal”, there’s a lot of discipline at play and this is definitely not your average raw, chaotic black metal. There’s order to the chaos on Sworn to Avenge, but that doesn’t prevent it from being aggressive and sometimes kind of depressing and melancholic despite not descending into the slower playing usually associated with those stylings. It’s a rollercoaster of “fuck yeah!” and “kill me now” (in sort of a good way).” – The Metal Crypt (2021: Sworn to Avenge)

“Now for some blackened thrash from Canada’s Artach, a band with an unusual take on the genre and a very unique sound. The good news is that if you’re a thrash fan you’re going to like this album. The even better news is that if you’re a blackened thrash fan you’re going to love this album. All of your favourite elements are present, plenty of riffs, a great blend between groove, rawness and aggression and raw, high energy vocals. There is something for everyone here which is why I can see the album having a broad appeal.” – Cavedweller Music (2021: Sworn to Avenge)

“Instrumentally I think Artach have pushed the boundary of what they achieved on their previous record. The structure of the songs here are more experimental and incredibly diverse, especially with the aforementioned “Endless Tundra”. The guitars push up against the limits of what one would typically expect from black metal while also keeping a foot firmly planted in that world, so as not to stray too far from the conventions that make the genre what it is. It’s an interesting middle ground and I’d like to see Artach continue to push these ideas further on their next release. This album as a whole sees the band try different things and generally improve upon the formula established on their debut, and I look forward to seeing what they do next.” – Heavy NFLD (2021: Sworn to Avenge)

“The album is definitely black metal – but there are some really nice elements in that that makes this author think the musicians are truly having some fun. In particular, ‘Frozen In Time’, exhibits this by delivering several rhythmic textures and a variety of guitar techniques. The vocals are also just well placed in this track in both timing and style.” – Brutalism (Album Review – 2020 Chronicles of a Black Winter)

“Artach have overnight become one of the most interesting bands to come out of the Newfoundland metal scene in some time, not only for the Darkthrone-esque duality of their lineup, but for their genuine appreciation for all things grim and frostbitten and their unique flavour of first wave meets second wave black metal. If you’ve not given Chronicles of a Black Winter a listen yet, give it a spin or two. It’s definitely worth checking out.” – HeavyNFLD (Album Review – 2020 Chronicles of a Black Winter)

“Artach is a mysterious two-piece Black Metal band who have issued their debut CHRONICLES OF A BLACK WINTER. Artach have spawned some fierce raw and primeval Black Metal. I’m hearing lots of classic Hellhammer/Bathory/Venom and maybe even dipping into second wave stuff like Immortal. It is all very black and grim the way this type of stuff should be.” – Metal-Rules (Album Review – 2020 Chronicles of a Black Winter)

“Like the album’s title may suggest, this album’s atmosphere is as cold and bleak as the North winds.  The album is very riff focused with modern production, but it isn’t too clean—I actually really enjoyed the production. Vocally, it is very unique and [not] just the same ol endless blackened screams.” – Metal Temple (Album Review – 2020 Chronicles of a Black Winter)

“A solid dose of second wave black metal.” – Astral Noize (Album Review – 2020 Chronicles of a Black Winter)

“This is an album that took a little time to grow on me and after more listens than I care to count, I still hear little twists that I hadn’t heard before. Pretty cool debut from a band that’s doing its own thing in a genre where bands are often content to imitate.” Rating: ⅘ – The Metal Crypt (Album Review – 2020 Chronicles of a Black Winter)

0 EPK – Gigantum – Self-Titled (2024)

  • June 19, 2024
  • by Asher
  • · EPKs · Gigantum

EPK – Gigantum – Self-Titled (2024)

Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com

“Each song tells its own story and takes you some place different. They have their own personality. The album’s listening experience takes you on a journey. We are trying to shake the foundation and rattle the windows.” – Gigantum

For fans of Iron Blanket, Black Sabbath, Clutch, Fu Manchu, Mastodon, Red Fang

https://linktr.ee/gigantumband | Facebook.com/gigantumband | Instagram.com/gigantumband | Youtube.com/@Gigantum

Gigantumband.bandcamp.com | Apple Music |  Spotify

“It’s wide ranging heavy music odyssey that spans six hefty heavy rock tracks on ‘Gigantum’ (2024)” – Doomed & Stoned

“Gigantum have released a no-hold barred “NO FUCKS GIVEN” attitude that will no doubt strike a chord with the jaded Doom/Stoner Metal fan currently out there. Excellent and Highly Recommended.” – Outlaws of the Sun

“With a flair for the dramatic, Gigantum has a no-nonsense approach to writing and riffing, yet remains free of pretension that fouls up a lot of modern bands with retro influences. This is only the beginning for this band! Jam out Gigantum to 11 and burn one right now!” – Ghost Cult Magazine

“Gigantum’ is an impressive debut that showcases the band’s ability to traverse different musical territories while maintaining a cohesive and powerful sound. With each track telling its own story, GIGANTUM crafts a listening experience that is both diverse and deeply rooted in heavy rock tradition. This album is a must-listen for fans of bands like Black Sabbath, Clutch, and Fu Manchu who crave a mix of crushing riffs, heavy grooves, and dynamic vocals.8.5/10″ – Infrared Magazine

“If you can imagine a slightly more psychedelic variety of classic era Black Sabbath that has been given a little bit of a punk attitude and expression then you should have a fair general idea of what to expect from this album. An album I suspect quite a few who tend to enjoy vintage era doom metal might find to be an interesting experience.” – Viking in the Wilderness


“That sort of plot is perfect for a stoner jam like “Necron99,” the closer to their self-titled debut album. There’s a good deal of jamming going on in this album” – Heavy Music HQ

“the group from Los Angeles chooses many unconventional methods and also reveals exciting things here.” – PowerMetal.de

“All experienced musicians, this is the work of a fully-fledged group that is ready for anything.But as for “Monkey King,” for all its doom-laden, Sabbath jamming on Fu Manchu chic, it’s a band that will do things on its own terms. Mia X is capable of whipping up a frenzy, and “For All My Friends” has something truly unsettling about it. If the album as a whole feels like heavy psych and melody are engaged in a battle to the death, then never is that better shown than on the fabulous “Forever Dreaming.”… with this self-titled statement, Gigantum are laying down a big marker. 8/10″ – Maximum Volume Music

“ an energetic hard rock record with a couple of very good doom songs. Recommended.” – Flying Fiddle Sticks

“Groovin’ stoner/doom” – The Moshpit 89.9FM (Madison, WI)

Album Title: Self Titled
Release Date: September 6, 2024
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: DistroKid

Track Listing:
1. Monkey King – 6:11
2. For All My Friends – 5:38
3. Forever Dreaming – 7:02
4. Brain Haze – 8:36
5. Rock Box – 3:38
6. Necron99 – 8:48
Album Length: 39:52

Album Credits:
All songs performed by: Gigantum
All songs written by: Gigantum
Mixed by: Charlie Waymire at Ultimate Studios
Mastered by: Ernesto Homeyer
Album Artwork by: Mia X, Art Director: Luis Aira,
Member of ASCAP and BMI

Album and Live Band Line Up:
Mia X – Vocals/Bass
BlareNBitch – Guitar/Vocals
Mark Lüntzel – Guitar/Vocals
Chase Manhattan – Drums

===================================================

About The Album Artwork

Mia: I envisioned a lot of speakers just blasting out Gigantum and that is how the artwork came to be.

About the album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

Blare: The album starts off straight forward and powerful. Some songs really take you on hills and valleys and other songs that are straight forward. It ends on a heavy note with Necron99

Chase: The album musically, I would say all the songs collectively work together. Each song definitely has its own unique sound, but all fit under the same umbrella so to speak. I think we’re not afraid of any one idea or concept and it’ll all end up sounding like us.

Mark: Mélange of styles – Heaviness and heavy riffs in conjunction with softer, emotional sequences.

Track by track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

Mia: Monkey King – lyrically – About the Chinese trixter deity called Sun Wukong.

Blare: Envisioned “royalty” when creating the bridge to go with the vibe of Sun Wukong.

Mark: Musically Is a rocknroll stomper

For All My Friends
Mia and Blare:
Is more poppy with a bit of anger behind it. It jams out all the emotion. It’s about losing friends either purposely or through misunderstanding or death and the complicated feelings that go along with that.

Mark: Musically, is groovy, foot tapping fun.

Forever Dreaming
Mark:
Galloping through an uneven landscape of sounds and intensity. Lyrically – is a deeply personal story that is symbolic if left up to the listener.

Brain Haze –
Mia and Blare: Lyrically – Being stressed that your brain no longer works and is on fire.

Blare: Musically – envisioned what it would sound like to be emotionally in a black hole and then finding peace.

Mark: Musically, It’s like rocknroll disco

Rock Box –
Mia: lyrically – Loving music and playing. Not wanting to be defined musically and doing it because it’s what we love.

Blare: Musically – it’s our ode to punk rock Gigantum style going 100mph.

Mark: Is a swift kick in the ass.

Necron99 –
Mia: This was inspired by the 1977 animated movie, WIZARDS. It’s a very interesting concept and a lot of the themes are still very current for today.

Blare: Lyrically, It has a very doomy industrial feel that doesn’t end well. Musically – it’s very heavy and doomy.

Mark: Musically, it’s a heavy repetitive journey into darkness.

===================================================

STORY ANGLES

Mia: A lot of the songs are about conversations that we have at practice. Necron99 came about when Mark told us about this movie he was really into and wanted us to check out called, WIZARDS. After watching it, I went down a rabbit hole to learn more and when he started playing the riff that is now Necron99, I started thinking about the importance of what the movie was portraying.

Brain Haze came about when Blare and I were talking about how the mind’s pathways are affected when the brain is on the fritz. Having consciousness during a really hard time, it becomes like a dream where you are disassociated and know what is happening, but you are a passenger in your own life.

Sun Wukong came about because Mark had come over after to my place after yoga and was telling me about this monkey that ate the sun that I guess they talked about during the session. I found that intriguing and wanted to learn more, so I started looking up monkeys in Chinese mythology and found out about this compelling monkey with a very wild story that went on for centuries who is known as Sun Wukong. So I wrote all these lyrics for him and guess what? Wrong monkey. I’m glad that I stumbled upon him though. A very interesting deity.

Mark: All of the band members find the work that we do on this project as therapeutic and healing. We hope that these qualities come through in our music and that the listener can feel our honesty and help them in some way.

===================================================

FUN FACTS:

Mia is an herbalist, makes her own teas and works at a witchcraft shop in Burbank called The Crooked Path.

Blare is a left-handed musician and has a degree in world music. She can play the sitar!

Chase has 8 drum sets and over 80 snare drums and will not share any of it with anyone.

Mark is a vegan mountain man that makes his own hot sauce.

They all love pets.

Mark has 2 cats, 2 turtles, various fish and a bearded dragon that he also has a tattoo of.

Mark speaks basic Japanese and wants the band to tour there next year.

We tend to laugh a lot at practice. We crack each other up and in actuality, we are comedians pretending to be musicians.

L-R – Mia X – Vocals/Bass, BlareNBitch – Guitar/Vocals, Chase Manhattan – Drums, Mark Lüntzel – Guitar/Vocals

Photo Credit Mariana Fiel

Gigantum, a dynamic new force in the Los Angeles, USA, heavy music scene, is thrilled to announce the upcoming release of their debut self-titled album full of dirty tuneage that will attract the ears of anyone into heavy rock n’ roll.

The band, comprising seasoned musicians Mia X, BlareNBitch, Mark Lüntzel, and Chase Manhattan, promises to deliver a heavy, yet creatively expansive sound that puts a new spin on rock n’ roll. Each song on the album tells its own story and takes you somewhere different. Gigantum invites listeners to embark on the first leg of this musical adventure. It is recommended for fans of Black Sabbath, Clutch, and Fu Manchu.

“The album musically, we would say all the songs collectively work together. Each song definitely has its own unique sound, but all fit under the same umbrella so to speak. We think we’re not afraid of any one idea or concept and it’ll all end up sounding like us. It’s a mélange of styles – Heaviness and heavy riffs in conjunction with softer, emotional sequences.” adds the band.

Due out on September 6th, 2024, Gigantum’s self-titled album is available for pre-order at https://gigantumband.bandcamp.com.

Album and Live Band Line Up:
Mia X – Vocals/Bass
BlareNBitch – Guitar/Vocals
Mark Lüntzel – Guitar/Vocals
Chase Manhattan – Drums

Discography:
2024 – Self-Titled EP

0 EPK – Dream Heavy – Song In The Dark (single) (2024)

  • June 18, 2024
  • by Asher
  • · Dream Heavy · EPKs

EPK – Dream Heavy – Song In The Dark (single) (2024)

Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com

“We anticipate our long-awaited upcoming EP will be well received by our current fans and also garner us a batch of new ones! We want our fans to be lost in the stories of our songs. We want to take them on an unpredictable, intense, and utterly enjoyable thrill ride that deeply influences their emotions and encourages them to seriously contemplate our place as humans in these perilous times.” – DreamHeavy

For fans of Porcupine Tree, Kalandra, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Nightwish, Unleash the Archers

Dreamheavy.ca | Facebook.com/dreamheavymusic | Instagram.com/dreamheavyproject

Show Dates:​
July 5-6 – Midsummers Music Festival – Smithers, BC
July 12-13 – Arts on the Fly Festival – Horsefly, BC
July 18 – Billy Barker Days – Quesnel, BC
July 19-20 – Discovery Coast Music Festival – Bella Coola, BC
July 26 -28 – Kispiox Valley Music Festival – Kispiox Valley, BC
August 16-18 – Robson Valley Music Festival – Dunster, BC
November 1-2 – Woodstove Music Festival – Cumberland, BC

Single Band Lineup:
Seth Macdonald: acoustic and Electric Guitars, Vocals
Shara Gustafson: Lead Vocals, Harmony Vocals
David McKillican: Drums
Liam Randall-Gustafson: Bass Guitar
Mary:  Synth, Keys

Live Band Lineup:
Seth Macdonald: Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Vocals
Shara Gustafson: Lead Vocals, Harmony Vocals
David McKillican: Drums
Liam Randall-Gustafson: Bass Guitar
Scott Duncan: Violin

============================================

About The EP Artwork

The album artwork is currently being created by our gifted daughter Saeda Rose.

It is to be a representation of the “Great Mother” or the “Tree of Life” connected to the cosmos and “Dreaming” all of creation into being.

About the album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

This EP is a sonic journey that is designed to take the listener to places and deep instinctive emotions in the mind…Lyrically the theme throughout tends towards the inspirational and rebellious. There is true irreverence for the divine here, but also unabashed anger towards the institutions of humanity that continue to keep us enslaved.

Track by track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

“Song in the Dark” is a melodic/progressive metal journey with a primitive tribal feel. The song is the story of our species’ evolution from our earliest awareness of the self and our awe at the universe around us to the brilliant, violent and destructive and arrogant beings we have become.

“Blasphemy” with its genre-hopping exploration of Celtic, reggae, and acoustic Metal styles is a stark criticism of organized religion whilst encouraging us to embrace our own personal journey towards the Divine.

“Filthy Rich” is a driving Hard/Progressive Rock music attack on the 1% in our global society. It reminds the selfish ultra-rich scum of the Earth that their days in power are numbered and a revolution on a global scale is coming to re-distribute their wealth to the masses!

“Mourning After” has its roots musically in Celtic melodies blended with Progressive Metal and Rock Opera. Lyrically it is a reminder to humankind that the incessant pursuit of material wealth will only end in the ultimate destruction of our souls. The song blends my own lyrics with a couple of verses from the song “Spirit of Man” one of the most powerful pieces recorded on Jeff Wayne’s 1979 Rock Opera; “War of the Worlds” (originally performed by Phil Lynott and Julie Covington.)

============================================

FUN FACT – STORY ANGLES

1. Dream Heavy is truly a family band.

Shara and Seth have been playing music together for the full 25 years that they have been a couple. They have also raised 5 children, have 3 grandchildren and built their own home on the same piece of land that Seth was raised on. Their son Liam is now a full-fledged member of the group and brings his “Gentle Giant”, youthful Metal-inspired influence to everything they compose and perform. Their Drummer David McKillican is like their surrogate son or younger brother; having first joined the couple’s previous band back in 2008.

2. The band not only works together artistically but also owns a Silviculture company responsible for planting close to 2 million trees every summer.

3. The family also hosts the Robson Valley Music Festival on their property in mid-August every summer. Shara is the Producer, Grant Writer, and Artistic Director of the event while Seth is the Operational Manager and takes care of physical logistics. The Festival has been running since 2005 (with a brief hiatus during the pandemic ) and boasts 5 stages, a huge variety of eclectic talent from around the world, and sees an attendance of around 1000 people annually.

4. David is a small business owner as well specializing in house renovations and custom cabinet building. He lives with his wife “Sasparilla Fox” an infamous Burlesque dancer, troupe leader, and dance teacher on a rural property outside of Quesnel BC.

Sometimes she even choreographs routines for the band and if we get truly lucky, shares the stage with us!

Dream Heavy is a sonic and visual explosion of an experience unrivaled by any other.

Ethereal vocals, Rich Harmonies, Intricate and melodic guitar and violin melodies, and a driving and diverse rhythm section guaranteed to keep you moving and guessing from the first snare crack to the last echo of enraptured melody.

EPIC WORLD FOLK METAL..

A tour de force!  Fearless Epic World, Melodic, Folk Metal. With influences in Metal, Latin, Celtic and other World music, Dream Heavy is a heavy hitter on all fronts.  Experiencing their unique sound, colorful stage costumes and thought provoking lyrics, is an unforgettable experience. You will not be disappointed by the spell that they weave..! With original members of BC festival touring favorites Mamaguroove and more recently Samson’s Delilah, their music has charted Top 10 lists on campus radio across Canada .  The group has now fully transitioned to their new name and heavier groove. Prepare to Explode on the dance floor!  

Dream Heavy, will be releasing their first single “Song in the Dark”(Recorded, Mixed, and Co-Produced by Jane Aurora at Arrival Sounds) in the spring of 2024.

Shared Stage with: Buffy Saint Marie, Five Alarm Funk, Digging Roots, Coco Jaffra, Mihiranghi, Delhi to Dublin, Mariachi Ghost, Stephen Lewis’ Big Band of Fun,  Rachelle Van Zanten, Coco Love Alcorn, Jack Garton’s Demon Squadron, John Wort Hannam and many more throughout the Western Canadian Music Festival scene.

Tours and Festivals:
2024: Tongue on the Post Festival-Medicine Hat,  AB
2023: Northern BC Halloween Tour-Quesnel and Prince George BC
2023: Robson Valley Music Festival-Dunster BC
2023: Corofin-County Clare, Ireland (duo concert series)
2023: Williams Lake Arts and Culture society gig-Williams Lake BC
2023:tour: Northern BC and AB
2022: Woodstove Music Festival-Cumberland BC
2022:Robson Valley Music Festival-Dunster BC
2022:Kispiox Valley Music Festival- Kispiox Valley BC
2022:Peace Valley Music Festival-Hudson Hope BC
2022:Midsummer Music Festival-Smithers BC
2022: North Country Fair-Driftpile AB

 

0 EPK – Art of Attrition – “…And It Will All End Forever” (2024)

  • June 14, 2024
  • by Asher
  • · Art of Attrition · EPKs

EPK – Art of Attrition – “…And It Will All End Forever” (2024)

Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com

“ … AND IT WILL ALL END FOREVER is going to be fun. This new territory is an amalgamation of all the music we have heard and been inspired by in the past couple of years. So many ideas had been channeling through, that it was necessary to create something unique for us while still maintaining our roots. Adding more beautiful cleans, soft choirs, haunting solos, catchy chorus’ and more emotive sections in our song structure. We present a record that you can listen to from front to back and can be easily repeated. Every time you repeat, you find more in the songs, another layer. We love this record and are super proud of it.” – Art of Attrition

For fans of Lorna Shore, Aversions Crown, Gaerea, Dimmu Borgir, Archspire

Artofattrition.com | Facebook.com/ArtofAttrition | Youtube.com/@artofattritionband | Instagram.com/artofattrition

Artofattrition.bandcamp.com | Apple Music | Spotify

EP order – https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/artofattrition/and-it-will-all-end-forever

 

Canadian College Radio Charts 2024

!earshot – October 2024 – top 20 loud – #12 Art of Attrition – https://www.earshot-online.com/charts/2024/October/loud.cfm

!earshot – September 2024 – Top 200 – #183 Art of Attrition – https://earshot-online.com/charts/2024/September/top200.cfm#1

!earshot – The National Loud Chart – For the Week Ending: Tuesday, October 8, 2024
#4 Art of Attrition – https://earshot-online.com/charts/index.cfm?intChartTypeID=106&dWeekOfID=2024-10-08

!earshot – The National Loud Chart – For the Week Ending: Tuesday, September 17, 2024
#3 Art of Attrition – https://earshot-online.com/charts/index.cfm?intChartTypeID=106&dWeekOfID=2024-09-17

!earshot – The National Loud Chart – For the Week Ending: Tuesday, September 10, 2024 – #4 Art of Attrition – https://earshot-online.com/charts/index.cfm?intChartTypeID=106&dWeekOfID=2024-09-10

“Since the speed is incredibly fast, you get the feeling that every song is a 10-minute epic, but they are all in the 5-minute plus/minus direction. But epic is a good keyword, because every single piece has such technical power that you really need several runs to understand, what’s actually going on and that’s what brings tears of joy to the eyes of every metal fan who loves the technical hidden refinements. A small highlight is probably the last of the four songs, as well as the title song “…And It Will All End Forever”, which expresses the band’s entire range and makes it clear to everyone, what is meant by “Technical Deathcore”.9.5/10” – Hellfire Magazin

““…And It Will All End Forever” rises to the surface with the speed and dexterity of bands like Archspire. Mesmerising lead guitars shine brightly above the powerhouse rhythms, momentary silences between anvil heavy sections giving fleeting respite. A gargantuan monolithic breakdown is the last thing you might expect to hear on a track with such stunning lead guitars but the band brought it and it is nothing short of brutal, contrasted perfectly the delicate piano fade out. It’s hard to fathom how this band are not on a major label because this record is sublime [9/10]” – Metal Noise

“Blackened technical deathcore… brutal and pissed off too” – 89.9 WORT FM – The Moshpit (Madison, WI)

“But then the EP’s ending title track. Holy fuck do they knock it out of the park with 6 minutes of killer melodies, a killer chorus and key/choirs, and a massive breakdown that make it an absolutely killer track, maybe one of the year’s best in the genre” – Teeth of The Divine

“Art Of Attrition plays a musical style that takes a very technical form of blackened death metal and mixes it with deathcore and symphonic metal to create a sound of their own. The production sounds very professional while the lyrics cover dark themes. In my opinion Art of Attrition are a very great sounding technical and blackened deathcore band and if you are a fan of this musical genre, you should check out this ep. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE “Drown In Fog” and “Emaciate”. 8 out of 10.” – Bringer of Death Zine

[Download EP Cover | Download EP Lyrics]

EP Title: …And It Will All End Forever
Release Date: July 26, 2024
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Distrokid

Track Listing:
1. Drowned in Fog (4:38)
2. Vitriol (5:11)
3.  Emaciate (4:51)
4.  …And It Will All End Forever (5:43)

EP Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Art of Attrition
• All songs written by: Art of Attrition
• Produced by: Art of Attrition
• Mixed by: Kimera Recordings
• Mastered by: Kimera Recordings
• EP Artwork by: Mark Erskine of Erskine Design
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

Album and Live Band Line Up:
Jack Sutherland: Guitars, Synths, Bass, Orchestrations, Samples
Johnny VanderRoest: Guitars
Joshua Hahn: Vocals
Greg Smith: Drums

==========================================================

About The Album Artwork

– All our artworks are painted. A being is sitting, hands cut off, and blood running down the arms to the ground. The being is swallowed by the earth. The colour concept is moody cool tone pastels, dark blues and greens which match our first album colour scheme and a contrast of red.

Empty, no one to help, no one to care. The raw emotion of helplessness and being consumed by the cold, steel environment.

Its official description is “Despair”

About the album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

“…and it all will end forever” is a head-first dive into self-introspection. Each track is not only an acknowledgement of the existence of inner struggle, but a confrontation. An open-ended internal dialogue, within itself. The album is a metaphorical checkpoint on the steep and winding journey that is self-discovery. “…and it will all end forever” endeavours to facilitate a starkly honest sense of self-accountability.

As a whole, the album is musically: Fast, Technical, Haunting, Groovy, Brutal, Melodic, Emotional, Ethereal, Atmospheric, Eerie, Bludgeoning, and Chaotic.

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

Drowned in Fog Musically: Is MUSICALLY brutal. It was written with speed and intensity in mind. It is an extreme and fast song that offers a lot of emotions such as anger and anxiety. The guitars are driving, the drums are fast while maintaining technicality and it also showcases a lot of groove. By the way, it ends with the heaviest breakdown we’ve ever done!

Drowned in Fog Lyrically: “Drown in Fog” is a song about trying to understand the reasons behind substance use as a means of coping. Whether or not the effects of a substance are worse than the feelings they are helping to mask, can be a very difficult question to ask.

However, in chemically soothing these lower emotions, we often inadvertently rob ourselves of natural highs. Pain and suffering bring healthy balance to our existence. Without a frame of reference, we trudge leniently through the fog.

Vitriol Musically: is MUSICALLY technical and epic. It starts with a melodic intro that is reflective of the first verse riff and gives an eerie rising effect. It is fast and technically proficient. It has a very epic chorus haunting and catchy! Throughout the track you’ll experience speed, emotion, groove and sway. This one showcases the definition of our newly found ebb and flow structure.

Vitriol Lyrically: If left unchecked, anger tends to fester over time.

Whether it be directed at individuals, circumstances, or otherwise, this may build to a burdensome degree.

Vitriol is an introspective foray into the worthiness of allowing space for such feelings and actions, into one’s own life. It is a delicate subject, and we cannot be too hard on ourselves for succumbing to the allure of vengeful thought. Life can be difficult, and we are not always dealt a fair hand. However, it is important to note that in hurting others, we are often hurting ourselves. Regardless of how redeeming it may feel to be enacting a supposedly necessary retaliation. Such is the irony of Vitriol.

Emaciate Musically: is MUSICALLY very intense, driving and emotional. It was derived from the classic black metal feel and given the AOA treatment. Bludgeoning, catchy, technical, groovy. Emaciate is one of the most emotional and intense songs we’ve ever written. It features a very creative drum part that is almost impossible to play.

Emaciate Lyrically: It hurts to wither, emotionally. “Emaciate” is a metaphorical description of the feeling of watching oneself become increasingly jaded.

It is heavy. To yearn for the days in which you were more open to vulnerability, feared less, and had more cheer to bring to those around you, is a difficult experience. It promotes a painful awareness of the continuation of said decline, as well as a bitter sense of nostalgia.

However, there are always more sunny days ahead. There is always an opportunity to burn it all down and take your life back.

…And it will all end forever is musically: is MUSICALLY our most juxtaposed song. It’s up and down, and up and down. In the middle you will hear our most brutal and disgusting breakdown yet, then right back into beauty and emotion. The solo is hauntingly memorable, and the ending gives you a heroic feeling as the song climaxes and burns out.

…And it will all end forever lyrically: Every material has a breaking point. We as humans, are no exception. We too, have an elastic limit. Pushed far enough, we may break.

“…And It Will All End Forever” is an acknowledgement of a collision with the breaking point. A sublime release of pent-up emotions, held hostage by a patient tongue. The dam has broken, and a surrender has been made. Hate-free and loveless, in true neutrality.

Pride, gumption, and fortitude. Swept away.

==========================================================

FUN FACTS – STORY ANGLES

1.  Jack learned all the orchestration, samples, tracking, and extra sounds in order to get them in our album and our live set. He worked extremely hard to make his vision come to life.

2.  Fun Fact: Greg played two back-to-back sets on the sola pravitas tour and was burning up to 1400 calories a night. He played for 30 minutes with Art of Attrition and then 1 hour with Plaguebringer. Greg is also one of the few drummers who can do crazy left-handed gravity blasts while doing blazing-fast kicks.

3.  On our way to play Windsor, Ontario, the alternator went in the van. The boys pulled over and Jack and Johnny did an alternator swap right in the Canadian Tire parking lot.

4.  We did a straight shot drive from Gatineau to Saskatoon.

5.  Loud as Hell was a last-minute decision. Geoff was in a pinch and needed a support band for the night and we made it happen. One of our most memorable live performances: https://youtu.be/cXyo7gZQIb8? si=cE3RUyEyJjrzCulV

6. STORY: FORT TEMETOPE(The name us and Plaguebringer came up with) was an air bnb we stayed at in Winnipeg. The pictures showed this beautifully, well-kept home. It was not. The owner was a master photoshopper who obviously specialized in bait n switch techniques. The yard was un-kept, a musky smell in the home, followed by mold in the bathrooms, AND a used condom under one of the beds. Tired and completely disturbed we ended up staying the night until 8am in which a “air bnb representative” showed up to investigate. AKA THE OWNER. We also didn’t get a full refund for the place which was infuriating.The nickname of the tour will be forever known as the “Temitope tour of terror”.

L-R – Johnny VanderRoest (Guitars), Joshua Hahn (Vocals), Jack Sutherland (Guitars), Greg Smith (Drums)

Photo Credit – Abscene Productions

Art of Attrition is a blackened technical deathcore band who separated themselves from the underground local scene with their 8-string barrage of dueling melodic guitars, gravity blast beats, intense guttural vocals, and epic orchestration. 

Formed in early 2019, AOA wasted no time writing what would be their debut full-length album “The Void Eternal”. They released three singles and a music video in promotion of their debut record. “The Void Eternal” was released on September 22nd 2022 independently and was very well received by the genre’s fans and the metal community across the world. During the making of this record, Diego Fernandez of Oracle Studios provided drum recording and the mix and master of the entire album while all guitars, bass, orchestration and vocals were captured at home by the respective members.

Influenced by such powerhouses as Aversions Crown, Lorna Shore, Dimmu Borgir and Archspire; AOA defined their sound as the epic, melodic, fast and intense experience as demonstrated on their first record.

With multiple shows, festival appearances and a Canadian tour under their belt, AOA continues to demonstrate their talents and brutality live with the endearing hunger for more.

This year they are releasing their new EP “…And It Will All End Forever” on July 26, 2024. and it is pure chaotic inoculation. A culmination of everything AoA has worked so hard to achieve in one record. Now, they are set to write a bit out of their comfort zone and delve into other genres that they love. The EP is recommended for fans of Lorna Shore, Aversions Crown, and Gaerea.

Discography:
2024 – …And It Will All End Forever – EP
2023 – The Void Eternal – LP

Shared Stage with: The Hallowed Catharsis, Truent, Widows Peak, Raising the ruins, Fall of Earth, Glocktopus, The Myopia Condition, All Else Fails, Mares of Thrace, The Weir, Genizah, Plaguebringer, Vaegon, All Was Lost, Sol Runner, Retrofuturist, Pythonic, Spare the Dying

Tours and Festivals:
2023 – Loud as Hell Fest – Drumheller, AB
2023 – Sola Pravitas Canadian Tour (June 15 – July 01)

0 EPK – Necronomicon Ex Mortis – You and Your Friends Are Dead: Game Over (2024)

  • June 12, 2024
  • by Asher
  • · EPKs · Necronomicon Ex Mortis

EPK – Necronomicon Ex Mortis – You and Your Friends Are Dead: Game Over (2024)

Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com

For fans of Arsis, Black Dahlia Murder, Obscura, Death, Dethklok

“This EP shows Necronomicon Ex Mortis at our most versatile; proving we have multiple ways to rip your face off! We think the fans will love the variety on this release! We want to have the listener have their expectations constantly challenged on this record!” – Guitarist – Michael Nystrom Bala – Necronomicon Ex Mortis

Band: Necronomicon Ex Mortis
Title: You and Your Friends Are Dead: Game Over
Release Date: June 29th, 2024
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Distrokid

Necronomiconexmortisband.com | Facebook | Instagram.com/necronomiconexmortisband

Spotify |  Necronomiconexmortis.bandcamp.com

“From start to finish, it really is a head-spinner and a heart-pounder, and some of the most fun you can have with your clothes on (though you might need to strip down and dry off after the EP is done with you.). If it wasn’t clear already, it’s damned clear after Silver Bullet that Necronomicon Ex Mortis is “a band to watch”. And if these peoples really do have 69 more songs fully written, bring ’em on!” – No Clean Singing (2023 – Silver Bullet EP)

“Necronomicon Ex Mortis Mix Shredding Death Metal and Horror On Silver Bullet… If I were to inform you of a band out there describing themselves as a ‘combination of ‘80s shred with ‘90s riffs all wrapped up in a cheesy B-horror movie’ chances are you’d excitedly inquire as to who this band is, after which I could start taking over/under bets on how quickly said horror-metal nerd collective would become one of your new favourites.” – Decibel Magazine (2023 – Silver Bullet EP)

“Sit back and marvel at the eccentric sound of Necronomicon Ex Mortis as they take us on a wild, but brief journey of thrilling heaviness. Starting with a track about getting ripped apart by a giant undead ape called Crypt of the Gorilla God. It’s a thrashy and speedy opener that features some absolutely screaming guitar solos. An immediate example of the lovable nature of this EP and band. 8.5/10” – Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life (2023 – Silver Bullet EP)

“A tale of primordial monsters living in the dark waters, “The Swamp” finds Necronomicon Ex Mortis at their storytelling finest, evolving a tale in classical fashion while having some moments in the guitar work that wouldn’t be out of place if they were written by Scott Carstairs for a Fallujah record. Somehow they have taken the bare bones that surround them and carved them intro intricate designs that leap between Metal sub-genres with death defying consummate ease. There is so much depth and texture than you’d usually expect to find in these songs… You have to wonder just how long it will be before these Gentlemen find themselves playing the Summer Slaughter Tour because that’s exactly where they should be [8.5/10]” – Metal Noise (2023 – Silver Bullet EP)

“Necronomicon Ex Mortis combines elements of classic death metal, 80s shred worship, and gory lyrics about B-horror movies. This EP starts with Crypt of the Gorilla God, a track about getting ripped apart by a giant undead ape. It’s a thrashy and speedy opener that features some absolutely screaming guitar solos. Silver Bullet is raw but this band is worth keeping an eye on.” – WRIV 90.1FM (Burlington, VT) (2023 – Silver Bullet EP)

“Necronomicon Ex Mortis have shown with Silver Bullet that they want to hit hard very quickly. The pieces are striking and make you want to discover more very quickly! We hope that the European public will respond to the call of the Americans and their desire to immerse us in horror stories worthy of the 80s. We wish them the best and we encourage you to dive into their universe!” – Sounding Shivers (2023 – Silver Bullet EP)

“As EP’s it’s pitched just right in that it comes in and goes straight for the throat and doesn’t overstay its welcome. What will be interesting is to see what a full-length album will be like; can they sustain this level of quality for say ten songs? I’ll have to seek out their first release and compare, but for now this will satisfy those who love both death metal and 80’s horror. 7/10” – Musipedia of Metal (2023 – Silver Bullet EP)

“Thrashy death metal with catchy groove” – The Mosh Pit 89.9 FM (Madison, WI) (2023 – Silver Bullet EP)

“The fusion of Death Metal and shred is intriguing” – Amplified Magazin (2023 – Silver Bullet EP)

“They make a death metal with classical influences and are obsessed with 80s horror films, a passion that is always to be shared.” – Metal Skunk (2023 – Silver Bullet EP)
​
“if you want to hear guitar players that have spent time really learning their instruments and pouring their blood, sweat and tears into giving people metal that shows attention to detail, quality and songwriting, then you might be pleased by this band.” – Metal Bulletin (2023 – Silver Bullet EP)

“You might suspect we’re exaggerating, but we’re really not. The four songs on the EP are undeniably sinister and ferocious, but the dominant impression of the music is that it’s exhilarating and exultant, the work of people who decided to put their formidable talents to the test, while having a shitload of fun doing that. When you listen it will make sense to hear that the EP comes recommended for fans of Black Dahlia Murder, Obscura, Arsis, Racer X, and Megadeth.” – No Clean Singing (2023 – Necronomicon Ex Mortis – EP)

“Inspired by Swedish Death Metal “Celestial Tomb” lays down the blast beats while having an interesting melodic lead that flies into a monstrous extended face melting solo of the highest order, confirming if there was any doubt that these musicians have the capability to step on stages with World Superpower level bands and hold their own. If it wasn’t for their love of old school works, you could easily see them going down the more technical road of an Archspire or Inferi, the clues to that murder mystery are all wrapped up within this whirlwind of an opener for all to witness.” – Metal Noise (2023 – Necronomicon Ex Mortis – EP)

“You can’t go wrong with the combination of death metal and horror, it’s a blend that goes together as obviously as blood and guts. With so much influence on offer, newcomers NECRONOMICON EX MORTIS have taken the idea and ran like a madman with it.” – Distorted Sound Mag (2023 – Necronomicon Ex Mortis – EP)

“the EP feels solid. It has remarkable melodies, a good sound and a cool cover.” – Metal Bite (2023 – Necronomicon Ex Mortis – EP)

“Epic/symphonic black metal, good technical and proggy stuff too.” – WORT FM 89.9FM (Madison, WI) (2023 – Necronomicon Ex Mortis – EP)

“They are young, their desire is noticeable and they are also capable of entertaining… “Earth Cancer” radically changes the record and becomes something more classic, sounding more like things like CANNIBAL CORPSE or CANCER, but maintaining the technique of the former. I am very surprised by the work of both guitarists, since they are capable of combining good riffs with a certain dose of brutality without leaving an unintelligible hodgepodge.” – Necromance Magazine (2023 – Necronomicon Ex Mortis – EP)

[Download EP Cover | Download EP Lyrics]

Band: Necronomicon Ex Mortis
Title: You and Your Friends Are Dead: Game Over
Release Date: June 29th, 2024
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Distrokid

Track Listing:
1. My Bloody Valentine – 5:50
2. Leprechaun – 3:35
3. In the Mouth of Madness – 4:59
4. The Dead Zone – 4:02
5. Jason Lives – 5:43
EP Length: 24:11

EP Recording Credits:

EP Lineup:
Michael Nystrom Bala – Guitars/Songwriter/Lyrics
Manuel Barbara – Guitars
Yusuf Rashid – Bass
Craigh Schmuhl – Vocals
Joey Ferretti – Drums

============================================

About The EP Artwork:

The artwork is a color explosion; just like the songs themselves!

About the album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

There’s lots of variety in the songs and song structures, but very little variety in terms of lyrics. The lyrics are mainly about murder and blood.

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

1. My Bloody Valentine – Thrash and technical death metal meet! This song retells the story of “My Bloody Valentine.

2. Leprechaun – Melodic metal that’s short and sweet, just like an actual Leprechaun. The song retells the story of “Leprechaun.”

3. In the Mouth of Madness – Low, slow, and filled with symmetrical scales. This one takes a more mid-paced approach to death metal. This song retells the story of “In the Mouth of Madness.”

4. The Dead Zone – This song is based more on the 90s progressive death metal sound. Lots of symmetrical scales, extreme dissonance, and a cool guitar moment from Manuel. This song retells the story of “The Dead Zone.”

5. Jason Lives – This song screams “Mike has been listening to too much Autopsy.” We even tried our hand at a “death/doom” section right in the middle. This song retells the story of “Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives.”

============================================

FUN FACTS – STORY ANGLES

1. Manuel hates vodka, but Michael loves it.

2. Most of the movies that are written about in these songs come from the 80s.

3. The vocals are still done in Craig’s basement.

4. Joey and Michael share a birthday, but Joey forgets literally every year.

5. Manuel and Michael once attempted to abandon Yusuf at a Burger King in North Hollywood, California.

Top – Michael Bala – Guitar, Manuel Barbarà – Guitar

Bottom – Yusuf Rashid – Bass, Craig Schmul – Vocals, Joey Ferretti – Drums

Necronomicon Ex Mortis was formed by Michael Nystrom Bala out of a desire to combine elements of classic death metal, 80s shred worship, and gory lyrics about B-horror movies. After writing far too many songs, Michael contacted guitarist Manuel Barbara, who joined the band because he had “nothing better to do.” Shortly after, bassist Yusuf Rashid joined the band so he could escape the jazz world and play music people would listen to outside of an elevator. The three amigos then enlisted fellow Berklee Bros Craig Schmuhl and Joey Ferretti, on vocals and drums respectively. Apparently, they didn’t have much better to do, either. 

​After polishing up the first 4 songs, Michael, Manuel, and Yusuf recorded guitars and bass with Charlie Waymire of Ultimate Studios in Los Angeles, California. Shortly after the strings were finished, Craig recorded vocals in his studio in Illinois. The debut EP “Necronomicon Ex Mortis” was released on March 31st, 2023. ​

Hungry for more music (and flesh), the lads reunited in LA once again to record a follow-up EP called “Silver Bullet.” Over one long, blood-drenched week, Michael, Manuel, and Yusuf pieced the EP together under the hot California sun. From there, it was back to Craig’s underground lair (studio) in Illinois for more vocal goodness. On August 10, the EP “Silver Bullet” was presented to the world by Decibel Magazine, and then fully released the following day on August 11th.​

As of now, the boys have just returned back from the laboratory of a mad scientist, and are preparing for the third release entitled “You and Your Friends Are Dead: Game Over” due out June 29th, 2024 to haunt your dreams. 

EP/Live Band Lineup:
Michael Nystrom Bala – Guitar
Manuel Barbará – Guitar
Yusuf Rashid – Bass
Joey Ferretti – Drums
Vocals – Craig Schmuhl

Discography:
2024 –  You and Your Friends Are Dead: Game Over – EP
2023 – Silver Bullet – EP
2023 –  Necronomicon Ex Mortis – EP

Endorsement – Michael Nystrom Bala – ENGL Amplification

0 EPK – Turbo – Broke & Ugly (2024)

  • June 11, 2024
  • by Asher
  • · EPKs · Turbo

Turbo – Broke & Ugly (2024)

Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com

“We’re comin’ in fast, hot and greasy with our second dose of Nitro Rock, “Broke and Ugly”. It’s faster, grittier, meaner, sleazier, and louder than the first dose we gave you, and it’ll have you tapping your arm frantically to find a good vein. We’ve been called “Halifax’s answer to Motorhead” by The East Magazine in 2020 with our first album, and with this release, we’ve taken that reputation VERY seriously. 

Get yourself a grimy slab of Thrash, add a good pinch of NWOBHM catchiness and throw it on the burner. Mix some spicy glam metal and sleaze rock into a bowl with a large helping of punk rock and hardcore. Drizzle that over what you got on the burner, and garnish with a singer determined to turn his voice into sand who’s lifestyle and world-view will make you worry for him, and you have the recipe for Turbo’s distinct flavor. It’s an absolute slaughter in 7-tracks, sure to scratch an old-school itch you didn’t realize was there. Like your disheveled uncle on Christmas morning, Turbo is STILL trashed, pissed off, and sick of your shit.”

For fans of Motorhead, W.A.S.P., Kill Cheerleader, ZZ Top, Black Sabbath

Album Title: Broke & Ugly
Release Date: July 12, 2024
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Distrokid

Facebook.com/TURBOFAF | Instagram.com/turboasfvck

Turboasfvck.bandcamp.com | Spotify

#9 Turbo – !earshot – The National Loud Chart – For the Week Ending: Tuesday, July 30, 2024 
https://earshot-online.com/charts/index.cfm?intChartTypeID=106&dWeekOfID=2024-07-30

“The cartoon-ish cover art with toxic green/red colors could bring more smiles to the fold – Turbo executing a great crossover sound that stands on the edge of thrash, punk and NWOBHM/heavy metal. Broke & Ugly could be your soundtrack when needing an ideal wind down from your back breaking, seemingly never over work week. 8.5/10″ – Dead Rhetoric

“This rocks a lot. The vocalist’s gritty approach delivers surprisingly catchy and memorable vocal melodies, and the occasional backing vocals are often reminiscent of mid-80s “party” metal, very upbeat and singalong-inducing. The guitar work has everything people like in old heavy metal, a rather raw style filled with cool solos and riffs that stick in your head long after they’re over. You’d tell me this was released more than 40 years ago and I would believe you. A fun time from beginning to end. 4/5″ – The Metal Crypt

“”Broke & Ugly” may have been a little tight in terms of playing time, but with the incredible hit rate of one hundred percent, you can forgive that. When punk and thrash still spoke a language, the whole thing sounded like this album. The fact that a band would ever come close to OVERKILL in terms of sound technology says more than enough! Yes! Noisy thrash, melodic punk, classic setup – what a great record! 9/10.” – Power-Metal.de 

“entertaining, refreshingly lively, dynamic, far too good to be bad. Massively punching Kick Ass- Heavy Metal n’ Rock n’ Roll on all sides, which hits the eye in a straight line, brutally, snotty, until it hits the chest, where it hurts. Snots, tubes, rocks and rolls straight to the limit! 8/10” – FFM-Rock

“the band is insanely tight, with Frizzle and fellow six stringer Lindsey Dicks really giving it some violence riff wise and soloing like their lives depended on it. Similarly, the rhythm section of Sylvain Coderre (d) and Henry MacDonald take no prisoners and submit to no-one in their ability to hold things together at high velocity. Very impressive. As we get deeper into the twenty first century, bands are running out of ways to repackage, remake and remodel, so the freshness with which Turbo approach the task in hand has to be applauded. This is fun to listen to – and it certainly sounds like the band had fun getting the album down, and sometimes a bit of joie de vivre is all any of us need. But when you are able to mix that in with a killer technique and a sharp ear for a metal tune well, good times await!” – Sentinel Daily

“Canada’s Turbo label their music Nitro-Rock; On the evidence of the submitted album, Broke & Ugly, it would seem that Nitro rock is in fact an almighty mashup of styles, all rendered at high speed and with little regard for personal danger (in my day we used to call that Crossover-Ed). If that description excites you, then the album is going to send you into paroxysms of joy…” – Sentinel Daily

“Turbo’s second full length album is the equivalent of getting into a newly juiced up hotrod, the roof reeled back in, as you’re flooring it down the highway until your smoke trails combust. From start to finish, Turbo live up to their name in droves and then some with energy that cannot be denied and a plethora of tracks that offer much to be remembered. Though boasting a full nine tracks, Broke & Ugly doesn’t even eclipse a full half hour and therefore opens itself up for numerous relistens. It starts up, gets you in the mood to kick some butt, yet doesn’t attempt to overstay its welcome to any degree. For me personally, this style of speed metal can be a vast hit or miss but I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this record, and during its duration I was brought on board with Turbo’s infectious power. Furthermore, I’d wish to visit their first record, and am excited to see what they do for a third, prospective release; I merely hope it’s not another four years because this is really good, fun material that anyone can get behind. A refreshing break from crushing, defeating extreme metal is sometimes needed, and Turbo are one fine cocktail.” – The Razor’s Edge

“Turbo is a band that gives me associations to two very different bands and the earlier stages of both of those bands output, and that is Turbonegro and Iron Maiden respectively. If you can imagine the early death punk of the former combined with certain  aspects of the Di’Anno era of the latter combined into a whole, you probably won’t be too far off from the kind of landscapes explored by Canadians Turbo. And chances are good that you’ll find this tight and uptempo album to be a rewarding experience if that description comes across as tantalizing.” – The Viking in the Wilderness

“this album is just the perfect encapsulation of a fun” – Brutally Delicious

“in “Broke & Ugly” everything is assault and everything is thrash, with scream and you chant to give that imprint punk and Warrior Soul which makes the offer of the four Canadians even more pleasant and captivating.” – Metallus.it 

“if you want to have fun while frantically shaking your head and listening to a collection of compositions full of nods to NWOBHM, be sure to give “Broke & Ugly” a listen.” – Rockeando

“TURBO is Halifax’s answer to Motorhead…” – The East Mag

“It is a thrash metal rollercoaster of a musical ride that grabs you by the dick and doesn’t let go until bust a riff-inspired ear nut.” – Slickster Magazine 

Band: TURBO
Genre: NWOTHM / THRASH
Album Title: Broke & Ugly

Track Listing:
1. Ruthless Forever
2. Ignite the Night
3. No Savior
4. Scorpio Garbage Fire
5. PissJugs and Rattlesnakes
6. Nothing to Nowhere
7. Broke & Ugly
8. Down in Mexico
Total Length: 29:12
Album Credits:
Recorded at Nova Scotia, Canada
Mixed by Lindsey Dicks
Mastered by Jamie King Audio

Lineup:
Evan Frizzle: Vox, Lead & Rhythm Guitar
Lindsey Dicks: Lead & Rhythm Guitar
Henry MacDonald: Bass Guitar
Sylvian Coderre: Drums

Discography:
Fast as Fvck: 2020
Broke & Ugly: 2024

=======================================================

About The Album Artwork:
 
The artwork for “Broke and Ugly” was done by our primary artist and good friend, Tim Murray. It depicts a dive-bar nightmare bathroom that has been – to put it diplomatically – well-loved haha. It has a few little Easter-eggs from other songs of ours peppered through it, and a green hand grabbing for some shit-tickets from a busted-ass urinal that belongs to the velociraptor featured in the album art from the first album, “Fast as Fvck”.

About The Album:

“Broke and Ugly” is our second testament to the ups and downs of the rock-and-roll lifestyle, and it comes in swingin’ HARD. The music is raw, greasy and mean; but it’s also tight, coordinated, and flashy. The lyrics are defiant and visceral, painting a real picture of where Evan’s mind was at during the writing
process of the album. Themes go from party-anthems, to drugs, to women of flings-past, to life on the road, and back again. It’s edgy, it’s real, and it’s undeniably Turbo.

Track By Track:

The opening track – Ruthless Forever – has some of the heaviest riffs in the entire album. It also features one of Evan’s favorite guitar solos in the middle of it; he gets to demonstrate some of his jazz-knowledge through that solo. He had just successfully quit a nasty habit with crank before writing the song, and the lyrics are predominantly about his triumphant return thereafter.

2. IGNITE THE NIGHT – Ignite the Night is a straight-ahead party anthem. No ice, no chaser, no bullshit. The lyric “yeah, you’ve got problems, and I know how we’ll solve ‘em” pretty much spells it out. It features some flashy work with guitar-harmonies and a wicked main riff and structure to it. Have a beer or two cracked when you blast this one.

3. NO SAVIOR – While writing this one, both Sylvain and Evan were each going through some somewhat nasty breakups. The lyrics talk about that, and issue a warning of sorts to future ladyfriends: “I ain’t no savior, I’ll burn here forever”. Definitely one of the album’s standout anthems.

4. SCORPIO GARBAGE FIRE – Written to be more accessible and radio-friendly, while still keeping the trademark Turbo snarl intact, Scorpio Garbage Fire is a bouncy ripper with a palpable punk-rock edge to it. The lyrics are about a hippy-raver girl Evan used to have chemsex flings with many years ago.

5. PISSJUGS AND RATTLESNAKES – Pissjugs is a perfect example of a song that was written with the name coming first, lyrics coming second. It’s loosely written about a crew of strippers Evan used to hang out with and their lifestyles at the time. Lindsey came up with the opening lead, and we were immediately off to the races writing this one. The song’s main riff might be the greasiest riff on the album. Drink every time we yell “pissjugs”!

6. NOTHING TO NOWHERE – We don’t write ballads in Turbo. Our sound just doesn’t translate well to an actual “ballad” by any strict definition. But we DO feel that every good album needs at least one good reprieve from the balls-to-the-wall blasters standard of any good metal band, and a demonstration of how a band can push it’s sound in a different direction to explore a different kind of emotion. Nothing to Nowhere is our offering with that sentiment in mind. The lyrics talk about life on the road – something we’ve become extremely acquainted with.

7. BROKE AND UGLY – The title track of the album was written in a period of hard-times, financially-speaking. Since this is more or less the general state of being for Evan in particular, who else would be better suited to lyrically immortalize this mindset. It’s catchy, it’s boppy, it’s snarky, and it has our favorite chorus on the album: “Got no money, and STILL fuckin’ ugly”! An anthem we hope at least SOMEBODY out there will relate to.

8. DOWN IN MEXICO – Our bassist Henry wrote the main riff of this song, and it punched us in the gut so hard that we don’t deviate too far from it at any point through this song. It’s a real thresh, start to finish. We wrote it right before leaving for our tour through Mexico in the hopes that we could play the Mexican fans a ditty written JUST for them. Their response was unreal, show after show. We’re proud to have this one closing out the album with an absolute bang!

========================================

Fun Facts – Story Angles
1. Both of Turbo’s albums – “Fast as Fvck” and “Broke and Ugly” were almost entirely recorded and produced by guitarist Lindsey Dicks and the rest of the band themselves right in their rehearsal space, with minimal
outside-help.

2. Turbo played 53 shows in one year in 2023. They were on the road almost every weekend to achieve that.

3. In the fall of 2023, Turbo went on a two-week
tour through Mexico, and each member has a strange story about pooping from that trip.

4. Both the band’s singer/guitarist Evan Frizzle and drummer Sylvain Coderre instruct students on how to play their respective instruments.

5. Bassist Henry MacDonald is broke and sexy, currently trying his hand at an
amature-modeling career.

Like your disheveled uncle on Christmas morning, Turbo is trashed, pissed off, and sick of your shit. The members of Turbo, who were all in separate bands at the time, came together with the motivation to create something bigger and badder.

Something that was gonna grab things right by the cojones and give them a good shake. Evan Frizzle (vocalist/guitarist) and Sylvain Coderre (drums) were looking to start up a project, and when they met Lindsey Dicks (guitar) the juices started flowing. Todd Stanley (bass) held the same “Take No Prisoners” vision and immediately joined the fray. The musical influences cited by the band span across the heavy music spectrum, which results in an original, aggressive and varied listening experience.

With 100% collaborative effort, the themes that fuel Turbo lyrics revolve around personal experiences or things that just come up while they’re writing the music to a particular piece. The focus is that all the bandmates are able to relate to topics they sing about. It’s real, edgy, and visceral.

The highly potent debut album “Fast as Fvck” was relinquished upon the masses in 2020; metal enough for the heshers, punk enough for the threshers, and rocking enough to satiate the haughtiest of purests; welcome to Turbo’s patented “Nitro-Rock”.

Shortly after the release of their first album, Todd Stanley left the band. With no delay and extreme fervor, Henry MacDonald took up the helm on bass-duties, and Turbo have been touring and writing nonstop ever since, never slowing down for a second. This full-speed-ahead attitude is translated into their newest release, “Broke and Ugly” – faster, louder, and rawer than their first release.

0 EPK – Onchocerciasis Esophagogastroduodenoscopy – The Fall Lament (2024) (Gore House Productions)

  • June 11, 2024
  • by Asher
  • · EPKs · Onchocerciasis Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (2024) (Gore House Productions)

EPK – Onchocerciasis Esophagogastroduodenoscopy – The Fall Lament (2024) (Gore House Productions)

Publicist – Jon Asher – gorehouse[@]ashermediarelations[.]com

“There’s a saying in regards to music “Evolve; don’t change”. With every release, we push creative boundaries both in the writing and recording process. We never want to make a drastic change that feels forced and alienating to our day-one supporters, but we strive to evolve in ways that feel natural for the growth of the band; not just musically, but as people, too.

“We want this album to be something that you can either sit with at home, with a nice pair of headphones, and marvel at the complexity and immensity of the music. And also be able to just switch your brain off and use these songs to push through a workout at the gym.” – Jesse Agiomamitis – Vocals – Onchocerciasis Esophagogastroduodenoscopy

For fans of Deathspell Omega, Defeated Sanity, Ulcerate, Disentomb, Enmity

Gorehouseproductions.com | Facebook.com/GoreHouseProductionsOfficial | Instagram.com/gorehouseproductions | Twitter.com/GoreHouse

Tiktok.com/@gorehouseproductions | Youtube.com/c/Gorehouseproductions-Official | Spotify | Gorehouseproductions.bandcamp.com

Facebook.com/OnchoOfficial | Instagram.com/onchocerciasis_official | Youtube Music

Spotify | Officialonchocerciasis.bandcamp.com | Apple Music

Album order – https://orcd.co/the-fallen-lament

“It’s brutal as fuck, but it’s also explores the entire bouquet of sick creativity extreme music has to offer. The Fallen Lament is fun. It’s violent and it loves to blur boundaries between already scummy, disgusting genres.” – Vox & Hops Metal Podcast

“This EP is definitely for the lovers of the extreme – fans of Deathspell Omega, Defeated Sanity, and Ulcerate will dig the fuck out of this record. So will fans of Dehumanizing Itatrian Worship, whose Kiryu Zhang contributes vocals on the last track of the EP, ‘Facial Gutting’. 9/10” – Ever Metal

“The tracks revolve around blast beats and slams with some truly impressive breakdowns on display. Lyrics are themed around many different influences including mental health issues that have plagued the bands members, anime and video games making for an interesting read. In essence this EP provides a really promising preview of things to come for this band, who have the potential based on this evidence of creating something special.” – The Razor’s Edge

“OxE are a different beast, very heavy and extreme but different to most bands of this ilk. The best way to describe them would be like Mortician, but with slam riffs! They have that downtuned bass that trawls the depths of hell with its tone and razor-sharp guitars, frantic programmed drums and some seriously deranged vocals. The tracks are short and sweet, the whole EP only goes on for ten minutes twenty one secs but in that time, you feel so bludgeoned and battered listening to it that it feels much longer, almost like you are succumbing to some exquisite torture!| – The Razor’s Edge

“primal and brutal variety of dramatic and booming extreme metal ” – The Viking in the Wilderness

“Brutal gore death grind metal with pig squeally vox” – 89.9 WORT FM – The Moshpit (Madison, WI)

“Have you ever been sat at home on a quiet evening and thought; “you know what would be really good right now? A migraine”? Well, if the answer to that is yes, then the boys in ONCHOCERCIASIS ESOPHAGOGASTRODUODENOSCOPY have got you covered. In this, their twenty-five minute, nine-track offering that is akin to standing in a bucket of water and attaching yourself to a car battery, The Rotted Plinth of Sachiel is a full-on assault on your senses that is sure to test the endurance of even the most seasoned veteran of fringe, extreme metal sub-genres.” – Distorted Sound Mag (2021 – The Rotted Plinth Of Sachiel)

“They may come across as a novelty act trying to be extreme for the sake of extremity, but OEGD are here to subjugate you. Give them five minutes, and they’ll bludgeon you into submission. Whether you like it or not is a different matter.” – Scream Blast Repeat (2021 – The Rotted Plinth Of Sachiel)

[Download EP Cover | Download EP Lyrics]

EP Title – The Fallent Lament
Release Date: Digital – July 19th, CD – August 9th, 2024
Label: Gore House Productions

Track Listing:
1. The Fallent Lament; Paralytikus Ascends
(1:21)
2. Warmth of the Womb (3:31)
3. Stult Carnality (2:29)
4. Facial Gutting (feat. Kiryu Zhang) (2:59)
EP Length: 10:21

EP Credits:
All songs performed by Onchocerciasis Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
All songs written by Onchocerciasis Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
– Produced by The Popuko
– Mixed by The Popuko
– Mastered by The Popuko
– Album Artwork by The Popuko

Line Up:
Alice Simard – Guitars, Drums
Jesse Agiomamitis – Vocals
The Popuko – Guitars, Drums, Bass, Backing Vocals

=======================================

About The EP Artwork:
For the EP, I chose one of my personal illustrations that I thought fit the vibe. “The Fallen Lament, Paralytikus Ascends” – I was always kind of fascinated by the concept of a newborn calamity, brought forth by stranger machinations unbeknownst to us. It’s a cosmic horror kinda vibe, and fits well into the concept of the full length album to come.

About the EP:
J: Start-to-finish, the album is dissonant, punishing, and disorientating. Many of the lyrical subjects are larger than life and the songs tell a story of a single entity, a “godslayer”, essentially, on a God of War-esque rampage through the universe, all veiled in obscurity. This character and his actions mirror the overall feeling of the album: cold, calculated, and violent.

P: Musically, the LP is definitely the most experimental OxEx to date. Inbetween the utter carnage of the main instrumentals are layers synths and organic instrumentation that have gone through various level of sonic destruction to give the overall soundscape an alien feel. I was highly inspired by “Nithing – Agonal Hymns” of 2023 and the classic record “Dripping – Disintegration of Thought Patterns During A Synthetic Mind Traveling Bliss”.

=======================================

FUN FACTS – STORY ANGLES

1. Onchocerciasis Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (shorthand: OxE) was originally a solo project by Alice, who released a split record with a friend before bringing Jesse aboard in early 2019.

2. The majority of the lyrics for OxE tracks pertain, in some way, to mental health
struggles that I and people around me have dealt with throughout life, but with a cryptic flair to it so as to not make everything too on-the-nose and revealing. It’s a nice way to express inner feelings while keeping matters private. And thankfully due to the nature of our music, the listener can’t really understand
what’s being said anyway.

3. OxE members hail from various countries. Popu is German, Alice is Canadian, and Jesse is Australian.

4. When it comes to the artistic and lyrical thematics, OxE is inspired by various forms of media. We love incorporating ideas from video games (Dark Souls, NieR, etc.), anime (Berserk, Evangelion, Angel’s Egg), and many areas of real world mythology and folklore into our music.

5. The Popu has been a fan of the band since the first EP, but has never gotten into contact with Alice or Jesse until two years later, when – by sheer coincidence – Alice and Popu bonded online through the obscure interest of the Danmaku Game “Touhou Project”. Inseparable since then.

L-R – The Popuko (Guitar, Drums, Bass) | Alice Simard (Guitar, Drums) | Jesse Agiomamitis (Vocals)

Photo Credit: Onchocerciasis Esophagogastroduodenoscopy

Onchocerciasis Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (OxE), a riveting slam from Quebec City, Canada are proud to share the first single “The Fallen Lament; Paralytikus Ascends” from their brutal upcoming EP “The Fallen Lament” which will be unleashed digitally on July 19th and CD on August 9th from Stillbirth Records / Gore House Productions (SBR is a GHP sublabel). The band comments on the incoming auditory assault:

“The single was one of the first few songs we wrote when recording the new LP, which is why it has a familiar feel to the songs from our ‘Adoration of Decaying Innocence’ EP and ‘Rotted Plinth of Sachiel’ LP. We wanted to couple this track with some of our older songs because it gives the fans something new, literally and metaphorically.”

The band continues to explain that the track has some hallmarks of their evolution going into their latest LP, without showing their entire hand and spoiling the fun. It’s a blister of a track that they think was naturally a good choice for first on the list.

The EP “The Fallen Lament” combines unnerving, chaotic, and apocalyptic sounds with meticulous calculation. The lyrics are predominantly penned by vocalist Jesse Agiomamitis, who draws inspiration from a myriad of sources, including video games, anime, movies, and personal experiences written in a cryptic fashion so that they can imprint in a unique way on each listener. The band is heavily influenced by the likes of Last Days of Humanity, Disentomb, and Dehumanizing Itatrian Worship, whose Kiryu Zhang does guest vocals on track 4. “Facial Gutting”.

Listen to “The Fallen Lament; Paralytikus Ascends” – https://youtu.be/BltoQMnk8YY​

Recommended for fans of Deathspell Omega, Defeated Sanity, and Ulcerate, “The Fallen Lament” is available for pre-order at https://orcd.co/the-fallen-lament

Discography:
2024 – The Fall Lament – EP
2021 – The Rotted Plinth of Sachiel – LP
2019 – Adoration of Decaying Innocence – EP
2018 – Interspecies Defloration – EP

0 EPK – World On Alert – Self-Titled (EP) (2024)

  • June 6, 2024
  • by Asher
  • · EPKs · World On Alert

EPK – World On Alert – Self-Titled (EP) (2024)

Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com

“I’m trying to give everyone a little taste of many different sounds and feelings. I think people will enjoy it. There is a bit for everyone on it. This was a long time coming. And I am very lucky to be able to work with so many talented musicians.” – Gino LaPosta – World On Alert

For fans of Dream Theater, Rush, Tool, Fates Warning, Metallica

Instagram.com/world.on.alert | Facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555752466553 | Youtube.com/@WorldOnAlert | Twitter.com/WorldOnAlertMtl

Worldonalert.bandcamp.com | Spotify

“World On Alert is a brand new progressive/ thrash metal project created by CroMagnum and Void Within bassist Gino LaPosta. There are several fellow musicians who lent their talents to this album including John Vincelli, Nick Amalfi, Justyn Wynn, Alex Walsh, Costa Skoulikas, Armen Apekian, and Max Rex. The five tracks herein are thrashy with progressive elements. This will seem strange but if, say, Exodus and Dream Theater jammed together they would quite likely sound like World On Alert. Needless to say, I wouldn’t classify these guys in the same league as Portnoy, LaBrie, Petrucci, Holt, etc. Few are. There are, nonetheless, some similarities. ‘Freedom In Disguise’ opens the EP and is musically very good, especially Walsh’s blazing solo. Rex’s harsh vocals, however, are hard on the ears. ‘Insecurities’ is a cool number that commences with LaPosta’s nimble bass riffing. Walsh and Vynn made this a very special song with their excellent riffing/leads. Walsh and Mutank’s Skoulikas spar throughout on the lengthy and epic ‘They Came From The Pleiades’; easily the best cut on offer. It has plenty of off chords and neat tempo changes. ‘Alone With My Thoughts’ is a beautiful ballad with, again, some wonderful leads from Vynn and Walsh. ‘The War Inside’, conversely, leans heavily on thrash. Like Rex, Vincelli’s singing grates on the nerves. Thankfully, Skoulikas, Walsh, and Apekian’s riffs/leads are spot on. Sporadic shoddy vocals aside, LaPosta should be proud of this project. 9/10″ – Powerplay Magazine UK
​
​“those with a curiosity for a dirtier variety of progressive metal that is a little bit rough around the edges, incorporate thrash metal into the landscapes explored and shies away from coming across as overtly technical might want to give this album a bit of attention.” – Progressor.net

“This is a five song self-titled ep of doom and gloom metal crossing over into thrash. At times WORLD ON ALERT harnesses Black Sabbath vibes. At other times, they kick it up and thrash it out. Thematically, these songs deal with overcoming oppression, whether it’s dealing with outside forces, self imposed, or illness. “Freedom in Disguise” is a very heavy doom and gloom feel that reminds me of an amped up Sabbath. This song hits the right notes to be heavy without being super fast, but at the same time, not being too slow and doomy.” – Metal Temple

[Download EP Cover | Download EP Lyrics]

Band: World On Alert
Album Title: World On Alert
Release Date: June 28, 2024
Label: Disguised Freedom Records                
 

Track Listing:
1. Freedom In Disguise ft. Max Rex (CroMagnum), Nick Amalfi, Alex Walsh (6:10)
2. Insecurities ft. Justyn Vynn (Orchad), Alex Walsh (6:00)
3. They Came From the Pleiades ft. Costa Skoulikas (Mutank), Alex Walsh (8:34)
4. Alone With My Thoughts ft. Justyn Vynn (Orchad), Alex Walsh (4:32)
5. The War Inside ft. John Vincelli (Void Within), Costa Skoulikas (Mutank), Armen Apekian (Ashes Of Eden), Alex Walsh (5:38)
EP Length: 30:54

EP Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: World On Alert
• All songs written by: Gino LaPosta
• Produced by: Gino LaPosta
• Mixed by: Alain Londero
• Mastered by: Alain Londero
• Album Artwork by: Max Rex
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

Album Recording Band Line Up:
Gino LaPosta – Bass, Keys, Programmed Drums
Alex Walsh – All Rhythm and Lead Guitars, Guitar Solo on Freedom In Disguise
Guests:
John Vincelli – Vocals on War Inside
Justyn Vynn – Vocals and Guitar Solos on Insecurities and Alone with My Thoughts
Max Rex – Vocals on Freedom In Disguise
Costa Skoulikas – Guitar Solos on They Came From the Pleiades and The War Inside
Armen Apekian – Guitar Solo on The War Inside
Nick Amalfi – Guitar Solo on Freedom In Disguise

=======================================

About The EP Artwork

I wanted something that had a world on fire. Of course, Max Rex, who is not only an awesome musician but also a fantastic artist, came up with that design based on the world on fire idea. (Gino LaPosta)

The EP as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

Musically, it is avery diverse album with many different styles from prog to thrash to pop rock.

Lyrically, the theme seems to be about standing up for yourself and fighting for what’s right whether it is an illness or just internal demons.  (Gino LaPosta)

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

Freedom in Disguise: Musically, this one is a heavy track with a soft middle that builds up to the heavy end again. You can hear some proggy Rush/Dream Theater/Tool vibes in there. Lyrically it is about standing up to the elites trying to control our lives and disguising it in freedom.

Insecurities: Musically, this one has a darker tone. Also progressive, with a thrashier ending. You have a hint of Tool or Fates Warning, and it leads to Slipknot. Lyrically, this is about my struggles with shyness which stopped me from completing many life experiences. But then breaking out of that shyness to finally be who I am.

They Came From The Pleiades: This is a heavy instrumental that ranges from Exodus sounding riffs, to proggy Tool and Dream Theater themes

Alone With My Thoughts: Musically, this has more of a pop rock feel to it, but some riffs still have a Chuck Schuldiner feel (even though it is not death metal). Lyrically, this is another track with the same theme as Insecurities

The War Inside: This is probably the heaviest track on the EP. Musically it is very thrashy with a huge Death influence as well. Also has an awesome guitar solo tradeoff between Costa Skoulikas and Armen Apekian. Lyrically, this one is about my mom’s second battle with breast cancer. And how she beat it again. Amazing story. Very proud of her

=======================================

STORY ANGLES – FUN FACTS

1. I (Gino LaPosta) shared the stage with Glen Drover (ex-Megadeth) at one of his clinics. Played 2 covers (Neon Knights by Sabbath, and I Don’t Know by Ozzy)

2. I have worked with many of the guest musicians in past projects. John Vincelli in Void Within. Max Rex in CroMagnum. And Costa Skoulikas (Mutank) in a project that we never got around to complete.

3. I am a huge fan of the Ancient Astronaut Theory, and the show Ancient Aliens. In fact, The band name World on Alert, and the song title They Came From the Pleiades are both Ancient Alien episode names

Top L-R: John Vincelli (Vocals on War Inside) | Nick Amalfi (Guitar Solo on Freedom In Disguise) | Justyn Vynn (Vocals and Guitar Solos on Insecurities and Alone with My Thoughts) | Alex Walsh (All Rhythm and Lead Guitars, Guitar Solo on Freedom In Disguise)

Bottom L-R: Costa Skoulikas (Guitar Solos on They Came From the Pleiades and The War Inside) | Gino LaPosta (Bass, Keys, Programmed Drums) | Max Rex (Vocals on Freedom In Disguise)

Missing: Armen Apekian (Guitar Solo on The War Inside)

Photo Credit: Jonathan Senecal

Montreal, Canada’s World On Alert is thrilled to announce the release of their progressive and thrashy self-titled debut EP. This highly anticipated project features a unique blend of personal introspection and diverse musical influences, crafted by Gino LaPosta with the collaboration of several talented guest musicians. 

The lead single  “Insecurities” dives deep into LaPosta’s personal battles with introversion and self-assertion, themes also explored in “Alone With My Thoughts”. Justyn Vynn’s evocative vocals and guitar work bring an added layer of intensity to the track. The accompanying music video visually captures the raw emotion and transformative journey detailed in the song.

During the pandemic, when live performances were halted, Gino LaPosta took the opportunity to focus on creating music in his studio. This EP is a testament to his ability to draw from personal experiences and collaborate with a network of talented friends and family. This debut offering is recommended for fans of Dream Theater, Rush, and Tool.

Due out on June 28, 2024, World on Alert’s self-titled EP is available for pre-order at https://worldonalert.bandcamp.com.

0 EPK – MRSA – Crystal Lake (single) (2024)

  • June 5, 2024
  • by Asher
  • · EPKs · MRSA

EPK – MRSA – Crystal Lake (single) (2024)

Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarealtions[.]com

“We believe the fans will devour our hook-filled songs with glee. Every song we write is a tribute to not only the films they represent but to the fans of these flicks that framed our minds. We are trying to immerse the listener into the film and settings itself! Trying to make them experience the horror in a fun way that will them into the victim or killer!” – MRSA

For fans of Cannibal Corpse, Obituary, Gwar, Mortician, Deicide

Mrsaband.com | Facebook.com/MRSAtheBand | Youtube.com/@mrsatheband8064 | Instagram.com/mrsa_the_band | Tiktok.com/@mrsatheband

Spotify | https://linktr.ee/mrsatheband

“This is a reworked version of said song from our last  EP. We felt that this song is the perfect embodiment of what we as a band love to do! This track represents the hooks and brutal in-your-face music that we want to be known for. Along with the video we want to represent some of what we do live as  well. As much fun as you are having to watch this, we want to give the same energy live!” – MRSA

Single Title: Crystal Lake
Off Forthcoming Album “Horrifier” Out On CDN Records

Song: Crystal Lake (2:10)

Performed By: MRSA
Written By: MRSA
Produced By: MRSA
Mixed By: Johnny Honeycutt
Mastered By: Johnny Honeycutt
Artwork Single: Dean Piekara
Artwork Album: Michael Pucciarelli
http://www.poochisland.com
ASCAP MEMBER

The line up is the same for both recording and live:
Johnny Honeycutt (Bass)
Cory Bickford (Guitar)
Brett Ackling (Drums)
Dean Piekara (Vocals
Joe Dwyer (Guitar)

===================================================

About The Album Artwork

The Artwork encompasses the true horrors of the mortal coil! The beast that lives within and inside us all emerging to extract it’s terror.

About the album as a whole (LYRICALLY &  MUSICALLY)

A refreshing take on an old-school sound. Bringing old influences into a newer sound. Every song represents a classic horror film. Taking you into the void of extremeness!

About the single “Crystal Lake”:

Crystal Lake explores the campgrounds of the malevolent spirit of Jason Voorhees. Will you survive his wrath or succumb to his maniacal whims!!

===================================================

Fun Facts – Story Angles

1. All of the band’s material being about horror movies provides us with an instant connection to our audience. Some people might not like the aggressive style of music, but it’s much easier to get into it when the lyrics are based on a movie you love.

2. Guitars were recorded 3 different times for this album. We had a personnel change after the first one, a technical issue after the second and the third is finally solid.

3. MRSA got its name from the infection. The original bass player had it and that’s why we chose the name. Nobody in the current lineup has had MRSA.

4. We showed up to play a show on Halloween at a Halloween party at a bar. We were excited because it was our first opportunity to play on Halloween. We were told they had a full PA to use and didn’t need to bring anything. We showed up, they did have a  huge PA. But the bar owner locked up everything, and I mean everything down to the last cable in the place before he left town on vacation and wouldn’t answer his phone.  The promoter, who didn’t confirm with the owner that we needed the sound system,  couldn’t get into the room with everything so we couldn’t play. Just watched other people do Karaoke.


L-R – Johnny Honeycutt (Bass), Cory Bickford (Guitar), Brett Ackling (Drums), Dean Piekara (Vocals), Joe Dwyer (Guitar)

Ripped from the bowels of Hell!!! MRSA takes you into the sickening dark world of horror films. Exposing you to the terrors that lie within the human condition.  They know what scares you. Curated by your host  (singer) Dean Corpse. The wretched undead serial killer vomiting his obsession with fright flicks. MRSA brings the horror experience to life. Death  Metal has never had a full horror theatrical experience like this! Each song is performed to the particular theme of a selection of films. The performances sometimes include scare actors, full effects, and props.

The band began in its early stages in 2013. Though certain incarnations existed beforehand the band released their first real EP in 2019 known as “The  Biography of Madness”! The mini album consisted of  5 hook-filled death metal classics. The acclaimed EP  gained the band a bit of a following and allowed them to open for such acts as MAC SABBATH and OKILLY DOKILLY!  

The band was not satisfied with these successes. They wanted more! So, they decided to worship  Satan. In doing so, they resurrected a new lead singer, (actually by screwing up the incantation), and they brought forth former serial killer, now undead DEAN  CORPSE to front the band! With the new line-up complete, they released another EP known as  “HEAVIER”!! The mini album was again produced by  the band and mastered by Terrence Hobbs of  SUFFOCATION. The 5 song EP was released at the first show in October 2021 to a sold-out crowd! This was also the first show with the full theatrical performance intact!!  

Since the release of “HEAVIER” MRSA has been blazing a trail of the dead in their wake! With two more sold-out performances on their own, did a mini tour with NECRONEMESIS and CORRUPTED  SAINT also opening for the likes of POWERGLOVE!  The band makes an impression anywhere they play and the crowds can’t help but get infected. MRSA is currently going to record a new 10-song album to release in 2024.

Discography:
2024 – Horrifier – LP – CDN Records
2024 – Crystal Lake (single)
2019 – Biography of madness EP
2021 – Heavier EP

Shared Stage with: Obituary, PowerGlove, Mac Sabbath, Macabre, Mortician, Ripper, Bodybox Intoxicated, Soulfly,  MRSA also backed Chuck Billy of Testament for a  song at Spooky Tattoo Fest in 2023

Tours and Festivals:
2023 – Milwaukee Metal Fest
2024 – Fort Pierce Heavy Metal Flea Market – Port  Saint Lucie
2024 – Slamdakota – South Dakota
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